What the Education Department Can Offer the Most Indebted Graduates Ever

It’s the time of the year when many similar stories surface announcing that this year’s class of graduating students will hold the most debt on record. Almost identical articles were written last year, and they will likely be written again next year.

Yes, the class of 2015 holds the unfortunate title of “most indebted class” and the numbers, as always, are frightening. More than 70 percent of students will graduate with debt, and those with debt will owe an average of more than $35,000.

This coverage brings attention to the challenges new graduates face in a post-collegiate life when saddled with so much debt. But by and large, these stories typically skim over, or fail to mention at all, who this debt is owed to and who has the power to address the student debt crisis. The answer might surprise you, as it’s the federal government – not Wall Street.

As the chief lender, the Education Department has the means to offer considerable relief to the graduating class of 2015 and other student borrowers. Here are a few options:

Notify all qualifying government workers and employees of non-profit organizations about Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This program allows men and women employed in the public service to have all of their federal student debt canceled after 10 years of payments (assuming they meet all qualifications of type of loan, repayment plan, and hours worked). This notable program is meant to incentivize a career in the public service. But out of the 33 million people estimated to be eligible for enrollment, only 222,000 are currently enrolled as of March 2015.

Promote income-driven repayment plans that minimize how much student debtors are required to pay every month, rather than letting them slip into default. Depending on one’s income, borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans can pay as little as $0 a month. Too many borrowers are unaware and uninformed about this lifeline program, and the consequences of falling behind on loan payments are devastating. Entering into default allows an individual’s wages, tax returns and social security to be garnished, and in many states can cause individuals to lose their professional licenses.

Millions of graduates are grappling with major life decisions tied to their debt—whether they can relocate or must live with their relatives, afford to buy or lease a car, take a meaningful job or a higher paying one that will allow them to better repay their debt. Without needing to rewrite any rules, the Department of Education can rewrite this new normal. Through these simple actions, the department can provide millions of graduates of the “most indebted class” and their families a fresh financial start and a real chance at building a great life without their student debt holding them back.